Improved skate



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. PLIMPTON,

0E NEW YORK,A N. Y.

IMPROVED` SKATE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,90] dated June 26, 1866.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMESLEONARD PLIMP- TON, ofthe city, county. and State of New York.-

Figure l is a side view of a parlor or roller skate applied to the foot; Fig. 2, a bottom or under View of the same; Fig. 3, an under view of a plate pertaining to the same 5 Fig. 4., a side View of a roller pertaining to the saine, with its outside bearing and catch or fastening for holding it on its shaft; Fig. 5, a section of Fig. 4, taken in the line .r a',- Fig. G, a` side 'View ot' the front part of the skate with runners attached; Fig. T, a bottom or under view of Fig. 6; Fig. S, a section of Fig. 6, taken in the line y y; 9, a detached inner side View of a plate pertaining to the runners of the skate; Fig. 10a transverse vertical section ot' Figg2, taken in the linez z Fig. ll, a'transverse vertical section of Fig. 2, taken in the line etz',- Fig. l2, a diagram showing the position sumed by the rollers or runners in turning a curve.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements in roller and other skates patented by me January 6,1863 5 and it consists in a novel and improved construction and arrangement of the several parts, whereby several advantages are obtainedover the old or original mode of construction, as hereinafter fully set forth.

A represents the stock or footstand of the skate, which may be constructed in any proper manner; and B B represent two metal plates, which are firmly secured to the under side otl the stock or foot-stand, one near the toeand the other at the heel of the same. These plates B B are of triangular form, (see Fig. 3,) and may be secured to the stock or foot-stand by a screw, a, one near each angle or corner.

At the angular end of each plate B there is a socket, b, and from the socket of each plate there extends longitudinally and centrally an inclined ledge, b, the outer end of which is rounded to form a journal, c, (shown clearly in Fig. 3,) and at the broad ends of the plates B B there are pendent projections d d, which are shown clearly in Figs. 10 and lll. These plates, it will be seen by referring to Fig. l,

are secured to the stock or foot-stand in opposite positions, so that the inclined ledges b b will extend down from the front and rear ends of the same toward a point in a vertical line passing about through the center of the stock or foot-stand.

C C represent what may be termed the han gers, the same being composed of four inclined pendent bars e e e c', extending down from a bar, f, having a bar, g, crossing it at right angles. The bars g have at one end ajournal to tit into a socket ofthe plates B B, and the op? posite ends of the bars g are provided with socketst' to receive the journals e ot' said plates B. This arrangement admits of the stock or foot-stand having a lateral tilting movement either to the right or left.

In the lower `parts of the inclined pendent bars e e e e of each hanger C there is inserted a shaft, D, on which rollers E are placed so as to turn loosely. This shaft has a head at one end, and a sliding key, F, passes through the ol'ipositeend, said key being attened at one part sufciently to admit of an oblong slot,j, being made longitudinally through it to allow a pin, It, in one of the bars e to pass through, said pin 7c serving as a guide for the key. The key is prevented from casually drawing out from the hole in shaft D by havingl a slot, Z, (see' Fig. 4,) at the outer end of slotj, at right angles to it, in which slot Zthe pin 7: may be fitted, and the key F is prevented from being shoved laterally, so as to prevent the pin lo from casually getting out ot' l by means of a button, G, which is fitted on the pin 7c, and has a flange in it at one end to tit over the side of F. Vhen the key is to be withdrawn from the hole in shaft D, to admit of the removal of the latter, the button G is turned so that its flange m will be at the outer end of the key F and admit of the key F being shoved laterally, so that the pin k may be adjusted in the slot j and admit of a longitudinal movement of the key. By this arrangement the shafts D are rmly secured in the hangers, and at the same time may be readily removed therefrom when necessary or required.

The rollers E are placed on the shafts between the arms e c c e', as shown in Fig. 2, and said rollers have their peripheries covered with emery, or have a ronghened surface produced in any proper way, in order t0 prevent them from slipping.

The hangers C C are secured to the plates B B by screws n, which pass through the center of the bars g of the hangers and into the inclined ledges I) b of the plates B, said screws having a plate, o, on them, between which and the bars g a spring, p, of india-rubber or other suitable material, is placed. rlhese springs p keep the hangers in contact with the plates B, and prevent all unnecessary play or vibration of the same in an upward direction, and control the turning, tilting, or canting of the stock or foot-stand.

In consequence of the ledges b b of the plates B B being inclined, it will be seen that if the stock or foot-stand Abe tilted or inclined either to the right or left the shaft-hangers C C, and consequently the shafts D, will be cramped, so as to form radii of a circle, (see Fig. 12,) and the skate will consequently move in o r describe a curve. The skater', therefore, has perfect command over the skates, and is enabled to perform curves, gyrations, and evolutions with the greatest facility.

When the invention is to be used on ice runners are employed, constructed and applied as follows: Upon the shafts D there are placed loosely what may be termed clamps,77 H, composed of two parts, g r. The parts g may be of any ornamental design, (that of a swan is here represented,) and the other part, r, is simply a plate secured tog by a screw, s, the runner I being between g r. The runners I have smooth running surfaces, with angular edges, so that they may be reversed when the inner edges lose their angular-ity by wear, and a fresh, sharp edge obtained 5 and when both edges of one surface become worn the runner may be inverted and two more angular or sharp edges obtained. Thus, each runner has four angular edges, which may be successively used before the runner will require to be sharpened.

The clamps H are retained in proper position on the shafts D by india-rubber or other washers, J, (shown clearly in Fig. 7.) The stock or foot-stand is prevented from tilting beyond a proper distance in consequence of the bars f of the hangers coming in contact with the pendent projections d d of the plates B B, while the clamps H on the shafts D have their movement thereon limited by the ends of the wings of the swan and the tail coming in contact with the bars j'.

By this mode of construction I obtain a far stron ger and more durable skate than the one originally devised. Tile stock or foot-stand is more iirmly'supported, and the ankle of the skater is relieved from that constant and tedious effort to keep the stock or foot-stand in a horizontal position, or to prevent it from casually tilting or canting laterally. All unnecessary play of the parts, and consequently much wear and tear, is avoided.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The construction of the platesB and han gers U, arranged and applied to the stock or footstand, to operate in the manner substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The key E, provided with the slotj l and the button G, and arranged in connection with the pin k, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The springs 19, applied to the screws n, which secure the hangers C to the plates B, for the purpose of preventing vertical or upward-and-downward play of the hangers, and controlling the turning, tilting, or canting of the stock or foot-stand, as set forth.

4:. The clamps H, composed of two parts, g1", for holding the reversible runners I.

5. The reversible runners, arranged substantially as shown, for the purpose specied.

JAMES L. PLIMPTON.

Witnesses:

WM. DEAN OVERELL, M. M. LIVINGSTON. 

